2-913-856 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lieutenant Montagu O'Reilly explaining his Sketch of Sebastopol to the Sultan, 1854. Crimean War: Royal Navy officer with Ottoman sultan Abdulmejid I. 'On the 6th of February last, his Majesty granted to Lieut. O'Reilly, at his palace on the Bosphorus, a private audience, which is thus described by the Lieutenant, who likewise sketched the scene..."He was very glad to see me, and...had heard of my drawings from Lord Stratford. I acknowledged these expressions by another obeisance, and began to unrol my panorama of Sebastopol, and his Majesty instantly took one end, and the Secretary the other; while I explained, through Mr. Pesani, the harbour, forts, batteries, and shipping in detail: his Majesty frequently asking me such questions as gave proof of a comprehensive mind, and a desire to understand the structure and strength of the fortifications calibre of guns, position of ships [etc]".' From "Illustrated London News", 1854.